Bishop: Presumed Innocent

The Gazette-Mail
April 21, 2012

http://wvgazette.com/Opinion/Editorials/201204200158

Ugly allegations have been made, indirectly, against the spiritual leader of West Virginia's 76,000 Catholics. But everyone should keep America's justice principles clearly in mind: No criminal charge has been filed against Bishop Michael Bransfield regarding events 30 years ago. Under law, each person is presumed innocent unless convicted. Nobody should rush to judgment.

Testimony in a disturbing Philadelphia trial implied that the West Virginia bishop was connected to child-molesting priests, made suggestive comments to altar boys, and allowed priests to take boys to his beach home. Thursday, Bransfield issued a statement saying, in part:

"I have never sexually abused anyone.... This case has gone on for seven years or more.... Contrary to the statements, I do not own, and never owned, a farm in the Scranton area, upstate New York, or anywhere else, for that matter.

"The statement that a former seminarian of mine, Stanley Gana, abused a minor at a home which I owned on the shore and at which I permitted numerous friends and priests to use is misleading.... I was not aware of the incident and was not present at the house at the time."

The Philadelphia trial is sordid. One defrocked priest, Edward Avery, has pleaded guilty to assaulting an altar boy. Another, James Brennan, is accused of raping a 14-year-old boy in 1996. A third church official, Monsignor William Lynn, is accused of concealing child rapes to protect the church. Testimony at the trial indirectly cited Bransfield.

Prosecutors sought to subpoena the bishop's aide, Monsignor Kevin Quirk, who formerly helped lead church inquiries into Philadelphia abuse. The Philadelphia Inquirer said an unnamed West Virginia judge refused to let Quirk testify -- which smacks of obstruction. But on Friday, Ohio County Circuit Judge Ronald Wilson ordered Quirk to give evidence. Good.

Gov. Tomblin wisely declined to pass judgment on the Philadelphia mess. He merely said the case is "one of those things that proper authorities have to look at," adding: "I hope things work out for the best."

Unless criminal action develops, West Virginia must presume that Bishop Bransfield is innocent. Monsignor Edward Sadie of Charleston's Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral called the accusations "beyond belief" and said the bishop has been "very diligent" in enforcing church protections against molestation. That's how the situation stands, and how it should remain, unless a flood of new witnesses or other dramatic developments emerge.